Frequency-domain wave equation and its time-domain solutions in attenuating media

Our purpose in this paper is to describe the wave propagation in media whose attenuation obeys a frequency power law. To achieve this, a frequency-domain wave equation was developed using previously derived causal dispersion relations. An inverse space and time Fourier transform of the solution to this algebraic equation results in a time-domain solution. It is shown that this solution satisfies the convolutional time-domain wave equation proposed by Szabo [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 96, 491-500 (1994)]. The form of the convolutional loss operator contained in this wave equation is obtained. Solutions representing the propagation of both plane sinusoidal and transient waves propagating in media with specific power law attenuation coefficients are investigated as special cases of our solution. Using our solution, comparisons are made for transient one-dimensional propagation in a medium whose attenuation is proportional to frequency with recently obtained numerical solutions of Szabo's equation. These show good agreement. © 2004 Acoustical Society of America.